<p>Etowah County Circuit Clerk Billy Yates has seen many changes in his 30-year career as circuit clerk, but none trump the technological advances.</p><p>“From writing down everything that happens on a case action summary sheet — from writing in to the computer age and now the paperless age — we're that close to becoming paperless,” Yates said. </p><p>He said the clerk's office should be paperless within six months, saving taxpayers money.</p><p>Yates, 78, is retiring after serving five six-year terms. His last day in office is today.</p><p>Deputy Clerk Cassandra “Sam” Johnson was elected as his replacement in November.</p><p>Yates said he is proud of his relationship with the four deputy clerks and the other employees in the office that “did all the work.”</p><p>His proudest achievement is that he never missed a day of jury organization for trials or grand jury organizing, which he estimated covered at least 400 sessions.</p><p>Yates said he never missed receiving a grand jury report. </p><p>“I don't know that anybody's done that in history for the counties in Alabama,” he said.</p><p>Yates said his office has handled more than $200 million in fines, forfeitures and judgments, and more than 400,000 cases since he has been clerk.</p><p>He said he had 16 good audits with no findings.</p><p>“If we made a mistake, we corrected it,” Yates said. “If they pointed out what we needed to be doing, we've done that.”</p><p>Yates worked with four probate judges, three sheriffs, seven district attorneys and 16 district and circuit judges, and said he had a good relationship with all of them.</p><p>He was the county's 11th circuit clerk. His predecessor, Dolores Parsons, served six years, and before that, Howard Kirby served 42 years in the post.</p><p>Yates served on the county commission from 1961 to 1965. He also worked with the county for about three years after he was not re-elected.</p><p>Chairman of the Highland Water Authority for seven years and a member of the Lookout Mountain Community Center board of directors, Yates said he has had a total of 53 years in public service.</p><p>He will be the county's first supernumerary circuit clerk and can be appointed to serve in the circuit clerk's position in another county if needed.</p><p>The supernumerary system serves as a retirement system for circuit clerks. Yates will collect 75 percent of his base pay.</p><p>Yates said he has shaken hands with six presidents — Harry Truman, John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.</p><p>Yates has a “supernumerary office” near his home on Yates Road, and said he will he play golf, wash and sell golf balls, work on golf clubs and cut the grass.</p><p>“I'll be busy,” he said.</p><p>Yates said he will also do some traveling.</p><p>“I've given my entire adult life to helping people,” he said.</p><p>Yates said the most rewarding part of the job was “knowing that I'm doing what the Lord wants me to do, and my service to other people in helping.”</p>